SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF AN AIRCRAFT

摘要

A method and apparatus for determining the center of gravity of an aircraft having a plurality of wheels includes the steps of determining the load on one of the plurality of aircraft wheels , determining the aircraft inclination with respect to level, relating the wheel load to the aircraft center of gravity based on the aircraft inclination. The load determination may be conducted on the aircraft nose wheel (60) using a lever apparatus (10) including a fra me (14) having a forward end and an aft end the aft end including an attachment device located at the aft end for providing detachab le engagement with the wheel axle (62). The lever apparatus (10) also includes a pivot arm (12) having a first end and a secon d end, the first end pivotally attached to the frame (14) at a pivot point (12b) located between the forward end and the aft end of th e frame (14). A load cell is positioned on the frame (14) so as to be engaged by the pivot arm (12) as the pivot arm pivots about the pivot point (12b) for generating a signal indicative of the force generated on the frame as the wheel is raised. The lever apparatus operates about a fulcrum point located forward of the frame aft end about which the lever apparatus raises the aircraft wheel. A process or may be provided for receiving the load cell signal and determining wheel load.